India’s social security coverage up 64.3% in 2025 from 19% in 2015; benefits to 940 million: ILO

India’s social security coverage has increased from 64.3% in 2025 from 19% in 2015, a 45 percentage point surge over the past decade, benefitting 940 million people, the ministry of labour and employment said on Wednesday, citing the latest data from the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) ILOSTAT database.

“In terms of beneficiary count, India now ranks second in the world, providing social protection to around 94 crore citizens,” it said.

Labour and employment minister Mansukh Mandaviya is leading a three-day Indian delegation to Geneva, Switzerland, to participate in the 113th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) of the ILO.


According to the minister, India has kick-started the national-level social protection data pooling exercise in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation.

“The present figure reflects only Phase I of the data pooling exercise. This phase focused on beneficiary data of central sector schemes and women-centric schemes in selected eight states,” the ministry said.

“With Phase II and further consolidation underway, it is expected that India’s total social protection coverage will soon surpass the 100-crore mark upon verification of additional schemes by the ILO,” it added.

The ministry further said India is also the first country globally to update its 2025 social protection coverage data in the ILOSTAT database.

According to the ministry’s statement, ILO’s criteria for scheme consideration for each country include that the scheme should be legislatively backed, in cash and be active, and verified time series data of the last three years has to be provided.

The government is hopeful that the increase in social protection coverage will further strengthen India’s global engagements, particularly in finalising social security agreements (SSAs) with developed nations.

These agreements will ensure the portability of social protection benefits for Indian professionals working overseas, while offering partner countries the transparency required for mutual recognition frameworks,” it added.